Ji Sang didn’t have much time to pay attention to Li Jiuer. The establishment of the paper mill under Mu Fang was pressing. The idle wood workshop was now busy. In addition to the need for a group of people to manufacture the waterwheel, some were also assigned to repair the northern warehouse, and there weren’t enough people left to peel the tree bark.

In fact, Ji Sang knew better than anyone else that it wasn’t a matter of not having enough people. In this world, men were revered, and she, a woman, was looked down upon by these men, although they didn’t say it openly.

So on the first day, Ji Sang made a round in the wood workshop during the day but was met with rejection. They saw her as Master Wen’s wife, being polite on the surface, but none of them wanted to work under her.

Before it got dark, Ji Sang returned home, first went to the desk to write a letter to Boss Ge, then wrote a job advertisement. Afterward, she went to the stove to prepare dinner. Wen Jian returned under the cover of night, and Ji Sang happened to place the chopsticks and bowls on the table. Wen Jian approached her from behind, embraced her, and rested his head on her shoulder, taking a deep breath.

“Did everything go smoothly today?”

Ji Sang squirmed, feeling ticklish, and moved her head to the side while pushing his face away. “Stop it, let’s eat dinner.”

Wen Jian kissed her on the cheek and then let her go to wash her hands. “You haven’t answered me yet.”

Ji Sang smiled gently. “Smoothly, of course, it went smoothly.”

Wen Jian washed his hands and sat down.

For dinner, they had clear soup noodles with two fried eggs.

Wen Jian held his chopsticks, looking at the clean noodles submerged in the red soup, and the golden yolks of the two eggs. His heart warmed, whether it was because of the softness of the night or the tenderness in his eyes, he felt like a happy little bird. He murmured, “It’s really good…”

Ji Sang glanced at him and smiled softly. “What’s good?”

“It’s good to have you.”

“Is it?”

“Yes, don’t you think so?”

Stars seemed to shine in Ji Sang’s eyes as she pondered for a moment. “Hmm, hehe, I think so too.”

“You paused just now!” Wen Jian frowned. “It’s so good, yet you still have to think about it.”

“Oh, come on…”

“You do.” Wen Jian said firmly.

“Fine… even if I do, what do you want to do about it?” Ji Sang gave him a sly smile and stared at him.

Wen Jian paused while eating his noodles, then forcefully bit on his back molars and suddenly grasped the back of her head. “I don’t want to do anything. I just want to see if the noodles in your mouth taste better than mine…”

“Mmm… Wen Jian!!”

Ji Sang opened her mouth to speak, but the man’s tongue slipped inside, catching the remnants of the noodles in her mouth. He rolled the noodles with his tongue and ate them clean, then he teased her small tongue with his, kissing her for a while until Ji Sang moaned softly, and only then did he release her mouth…

Ji Sang’s eyes were watery, glaring at him in embarrassment.

Wen Jian’s chest overflowed with a clear smile. He rubbed her forehead and praised her, “Delicious.”

Ji Sang: “…”

How dare he call it delicious!

–

Early the next day, Ji Sang posted the recruitment notice on the gate of the wood workshop. She also set up a table with silver coins neatly arranged on top, where five copper coins made one string.

The recruitment content was extremely simple: various types of jobs, the number of workers needed for each job, and the monthly wages for each job. The most important point was that both men and women were welcome to apply!

Among the refugees and local residents in the fortress, there were always a few who could recognize words. Those who could stood in front and read the notice aloud, while those who couldn’t listened attentively.

“Hey, is this such a good opportunity? You can receive five copper coins without doing any work?”

“Yes, it says on here that it’s an advance payment for wages.”

“And it says both men and women can apply.”

“…”

This was truly a rare occurrence in the fortress. The craftsmen in the wood workshop usually earned only twenty copper coins a month. In this chaotic era, five copper coins were considered good. Moreover, the notice mentioned it was an advance payment, which meant that the actual wages for a full month would likely be more than that.

After Lord Wen came up with the new policy for cultivating the Yongye Fields, most of the able-bodied men in the household went to reclaim the land. Many of them looked down upon the meager five copper coins. However, the women who had nothing to do at home found it suitable to come here and work to support their families.

So, people quickly started coming to sign up.

Register on the spot and receive five copper coins immediately. Such a good opportunity was unlikely to be found anywhere else.

Once there was the first person, the second followed.

Ji Sang was never afraid of not being able to recruit enough people.

On the third day, Ji Sang began intensive training. Her idea was simple: to produce the first batch of delicate paper before the New Year.

Each step required hands-on teaching. Just as everyone’s fingers have different lengths, people’s learning speeds varied as well. Some caught on quickly, while others were slower.

Ji Sang was busy like a spinning top, spending almost all of her time in the paper mill.

When Wen Jian returned home and couldn’t find anyone, he would undoubtedly go to the paper mill to find people.

As this went on, bold women started talking and joking with Lord Wen, who was as cold as an iceberg. Surprisingly, Lord Wen even exchanged a few words with them.

–

The busy days continued until the first batch of paper was successfully produced…

It was already the end of November, and the fields were experiencing the final farming busy season of the year. Amidst this prosperous scene, on the 12th day of December, the emperor sent Li Jia’s troops to empty the northern granary as a reward for General Zhu and his companions. General Zhu had achieved great victories while leading troops on the border and would soon arrive in North Liang.

With no barbarian disturbances, the upcoming new year would at least be a peaceful one.

General Zhu had made significant contributions!

General Zhu’s return to North Liang also meant that the balance of power would once again be disrupted, and the emperor’s days would likely be difficult.

—

At the end of December, the emptied northern granary was filled again due to the farming busy season. Wen Jian didn’t feel the slightest bit of joy about this matter, but there was good news from Ji Sang’s side.

Ji Sang found Li Jiu’er and entrusted her to organize a small banquet.

The main purpose of the banquet was to sell paper.

Li Jiu’er never expected that Ji Sang would also have a favor to ask of her. When she first saw Lady Wen standing before her, she couldn’t help but make some sarcastic remarks. However, to her surprise, Ji Sang didn’t pay attention to her sarcasm at all and even offered to give her a 10% profit share from selling the paper as an enticement!

Could the esteemed daughter of the Li family, a precious gem in their hands, be short of money?

Could she be?

However…

Two days later, the banquet was set up.

Ji Sang sold over ten thousand sheets of paper at the banquet, and the payments from the orders were substantial. When Li Jiu’er received her 10% profit share, she was completely stunned!

Thus, a peculiar scene appeared in the paper mill.

Ji Sang and Li Jiu’er would sit together, drinking tea and supervising the work.

After some time had passed, when Li Jiu’er looked into Ji Sang’s eyes, it was as if a mouse had seen a pile of rice…

A few more days passed, and a strange rumor began circulating in the fortress, saying that Lord Wen would marry Miss Li soon, and then Miss Li would be on equal footing with Ji Sang. They even said that it was Lady Wen who had agreed to this marriage.

Damn it!

When Wen Jian heard this rumor, his face turned green with anger. At night, he pressed Ji Sang down on the bed and tossed and turned.

“Ah… husband… slower… umm…” Ji Sang cried, her little face turning red, her legs kneeling on the bed, her waist so weak that she could barely stand upright, her arms supporting herself against the wall next to the bed, her face tilted back, her breath as if it had been cut off.

This was already the fourth time…

The man ejaculated and entered for the fourth time…

He thrust from behind, again and again, the sound of slapping echoing in the room.

The connected position of their genitals was being thrust vigorously, with fluids splashing and spraying onto his thighs, slowly sliding down, wetting a large portion of the bedsheets.

His rough hand grasped the two swaying breasts, kneading them wantonly. His scorching kisses landed on her neck, sucking deeply, leaving a profound ambiguous red mark. “Sang’er… Have I not fucked you like this for too long?”

His hand slid from her breasts to the triangular area. With her legs spread apart, his fingers easily reached that protruding spot. He thrust and deliberately applied pressure, causing the woman in his embrace to tremble all over, emitting moans that resembled sobs.

“Ah… slower…”

Unable to bear it any longer.

“Forget what you made me promise?” After kneading for a while, he lightly scraped with his nails. With the tip of his finger, he penetrated her shallow passage, targeting that sensitive point.

In no time, Ji Sang couldn’t resist the spasms as she reached climax. Amidst the man’s slightly reproachful questioning by her ear, she was being penetrated to the point where she couldn’t think. She responded instinctively.

“Promise… promise me… that you… can only marry me in this lifetime.”

Wen Jian abruptly stopped, just that one thrust, and her trembling body leaned against him as they both gasped for air…

His genitals pulled out of her body, and her body was laid flat on the bed. The man knelt between her legs, aligning his member with the wet and moist entrance. He lowered his body, gently kissing her, taking his time to caress before finally panting, “Just remember that.”

“Sang’er… I thought you were going to insert someone else for me…”

In the lingering pleasure of her climax, Ji Sang vaguely heard his words, without time to think, a light laugh escaped her throat. This man was going crazy tonight all because of this reason.

“Why are you laughing?”

It was a serious question, and she was laughing!

Ji Sang suddenly sat up, pressing him down as their positions reversed. His long and hard member thrust recklessly within her passage. Ji Sang had just straddled his legs when her waist gave way, and she collapsed onto his chest, moaning from deep within her throat.

“Ah… too deep…”

This position was particularly deep, and the large cock almost penetrated her deepest part.

She closed her eyes and waited for the sensation to pass before speaking, “Wen Jian! I’m not joking with you. In this lifetime… this, ” she twisted her buttocks, grinding against the deepest part, feeling the pleasurable sensation that almost made her cry. Her voice trembled as she continued, but she managed to finish her sentence.

“You can only… hide inside me…”

Wen Jian trembled all over at the sudden change in position. His black eyes burned with intensity, with a reddish tint in the corners, and his thin lips curved slightly. “My wife… so you actually enjoy this…”

As he spoke, he exerted force, vigorously thrusting upwards. Each thrust was deep and heavy, causing Ji Sang to tilt her face back and cry out. Her breasts bounced erotically in the air…

Wen Jian gripped her with both hands, intensifying the swinging motion of his waist. After several dozen thrusts, the young woman squirted again. He thrust forcefully into her squirting, embedding his glans deep inside, and climaxed intensely.

That night was filled with passion and ecstasy.

Ji Sang couldn’t remember how many times she had climaxed. She only remembered being carried to bed and almost instantly falling asleep…

The next day, Li Jiuer came to find Ji Sang, who was still sleeping in bed. It was a struggle to wake her up, but when she finally did, she noticed that Ji Sang’s entire neck was red, with faint teeth marks on top!

Li Jiuer pointed at her neck in astonishment, “Ji Sang, are you okay?!”

Ji Sang had been disturbed until late last night and was barely able to get out of bed, relying on the nearby wardrobe for support. She walked out with trembling legs, her gaze devoid of spirit, and looked at Li Jiuer as if she were a doll with her soul extracted. She smiled absentmindedly.

She was almost out of energy to speak, and her throat was throbbing in pain. Half of it was from the cries, and the other half was from being penetrated by the man…

Her voice was hoarse as she spoke, “Li Jiuer, do I look like something’s wrong?”

“Ah! Ji Sang! What happened to you? Who dared to bite you like this? Does Lord Wen know?”

Li Jiuer knew about the intimate relationship between men and women, but she was still quite fuzzy about the details. She looked at Ji Sang with her innocent big eyes, which made Ji Sang burst into laughter.

Seeing Ji Sang laugh, Li Jiuer became even more anxious.

“Oh my, why are you still smiling?”

“What exactly happened?”

“Tell me, who did this to you! I’ll seek revenge for you!”

Seeing that Li Jiuer was truly determined to help her seek revenge, Ji Sang quickly held her back and said, “Hey, hey, hey… Li Jiuer, I’m fine.”

“Then who did it?!” Miss Li was relentless in her questioning.

Ji Sang’s face blushed slightly, and she hesitated before saying, “Who could it be? Your adorable and respectable Lord Wen did it.”

Li Jiuer froze on the spot, taking a while to utter a single syllable, “…Ah?!”

Lord Wen?

He actually assaulted a woman!!!

Ji Sang was exhausted and had no idea that in just a short while, Li Jiuer’s entire mindset had undergone a drastic change. When Li Jiuer heard the idle gossip on the estate, she immediately reacted.

“Whoever is spreading rumors, be careful, or I’ll cut out their tongue. I won’t marry Lord Wen even if I were desperate!”

“Ji Sang and I are best friends!”

“If Ji Sang marries Lord Wen, I… I would feel sorry for Ji Sang!”

“…”

After Li Jiuer left, Ji Sang went back to bed for a nap. When she woke up, it was already afternoon, and Wen Jian wasn’t home. She ate something from the stove and then went to the paper workshop.

The female workers in the paper workshop looked at her with inexplicably strange eyes. What’s even stranger was that they took better care of her than before, as if she had gone through some tremendous hardship.

Ji Sang: “…”

Ji Sang didn’t do much work at the paper workshop and returned home when it was getting dark.

As soon as Ji Sang left, the female workers in the paper workshop erupted in excitement!

“Oh my… Did you see it? The lady’s neck…”

“Yes, I saw it.”

“Oh dear, it turns out Miss Li was telling the truth. When Lord Wen gets angry, he bites people…”

“It’s terrifying.”

“The lady is so miserable…”

The women chattered among themselves, and finally, one of them said, “How come… I feel like those marks are…”

The woman speaking was a newlywed named Ruan Qin.

Ruan Qin’s husband, Chen Liuguang, was a strong general under Liu Hu. He loved Ruan Qin dearly, but there was always one thing that seemed never enough.

Life in the estate was both trivial and joyful.

The morning light slowly faded.

Another year passed, and even though Wen Jian was only a seventh-ranked official, his impressive contribution of silver and grains from the Li family’s estate resulted in him being sent to the Eastern Palace for official duties.

The new emperor highly appreciated Wen Jian’s talent and promoted him to the position of Deputy Supervisor in the Imperial Secretariat.